27 November 2008

The Trustees and staff at Interpal have taken enormous encouragement from the nationwide support they have received following the formal notice served on the Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB) by Lloyd TSB to cease all dealings with Interpal.

Messages of support and expressions of outrage at this punitive measure have flooded into Interpal’s London office. Letters and messages of protest have been sent to both IBB – very much the victims in this affair – and to Lloyds TSB. While talks continue at a high level to rescind the notice, the fact remains that no explanation has yet been given as to why this action has been taken. Interpal has formally written to Lloyds TSB requesting an explanation and a meeting concerning this matter but to date, neither has been granted.

A letter has now been received by Interpal from Lloyds TSB, dated 25 November, which states,
“As we hope that you will appreciate we cannot discuss matters relating to individual customers with third parties and so cannot go into detail with you in relation to this matter.”

This is highly unsatisfactory. Lloyds TSB is simply playing with words without any consideration being given to the Charity, the work it undertakes, its staff, supporters and the thousands of Palestinians affected by this arbitrary measure.

We wish to once again thank all our supporters and will continue to pressure Lloyds TSB in this matter until we receive an adequate explanation.